-(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) Grammar in Korean: Meaning and How to Use It

What you'll learn

• Attach -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) to verbs, adjectives and nouns.
• Pair two facts about one topic, such as an advantage and a disadvantage.
• Use 반면에, 이에 반해 and 그에 반해 at the start of a sentence.
• Choose between -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에), -지만 and -(으)ㄴ/는데.

Prerequisites: the contrast endings -지만 and -(으)ㄴ/는데. Time: about 15 minutes.

Key facts

• -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) means "whereas" or "on the other hand".
• The word before 반면 is a modifier: 는 for a present verb, (으)ㄴ for an adjective or past verb, 인 for a noun.
• 반면 is a separate word, and the 에 after it is optional.
• The two clauses are two sides of one topic, often a good point and a bad point.
• It is not for "I did it even though ...": that needs -지만 or -아/어도.

Listen to two model sentences.

The next section defines the pattern.

What Does -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) Grammar Mean?

-(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) means "whereas" or "on the other hand". A connective ending is a word or ending that joins one clause to the next. The word 반면 (反面) is a noun that means "the opposite side". So the pattern says: "This is one side. Here is the other side."

The key idea is two sides of one topic. A room is large and dark. A city is convenient and expensive. A sibling is lively and you are quiet. The first clause names one side, and the second clause names the opposite. The sides often split into a good point and a bad point, but they do not have to.

Here are two glossed examples.

In the first sentence, one subject has two features. In the second, two subjects share one feature type. Both work, because the clauses compare the same kind of thing.

The next section shows how to build the form.

How Do You Form -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에)?

Put a modifier in front of 반면. A modifier is a verb or adjective changed so that it describes a noun. Take the stem, which is the dictionary form without 다, and add the modifier ending.

Two sound facts help you read these. First, 편리 is said [펼리] because the ㄴ of 편 and the ㄹ of 리 meet and become ㄹㄹ. Revised Romanization (RR) is a spelling system that writes sounds in Latin letters. RR writes the sound you hear, so it shows pyeollihan. Second, in 활발한 the ㄹ and ㅂ stay as they are, because Sino-Korean words keep a plain ㅂ after ㄹ, so it sounds like [활발한], and RR shows hwalbalhan.

Stems Ending in a Vowel

Vowel stems take ㄴ in the present of an adjective and 는 for a verb: 편리하다 gives 편리한 반면, and 잘하다 gives 잘하는 반면. For past verbs, add ㄴ: 오다 gives 온 반면.

Stems Ending in a Consonant

Consonant stems take 은 for adjectives and 는 for verbs: 넓다 gives 넓은 반면, and 많다 gives 많은 반면 (said [마는]). The final consonant links to the vowel of 은, so 넓은 is said [널븐].

Irregular Stems and Nouns

The ㅂ stems change to 우 before ㄴ: 가볍다 gives 가벼운 반면, and 춥다 gives 추운 반면.

For a past adjective, use 았/었던: 춥다 gives 추웠던 반면, and 따뜻하다 gives 따뜻했던 반면.

For nouns, use 이다, which means "to be". A noun takes 인 whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant: 대도시인 반면 and 학생인 반면. The negative 아니다 becomes 아닌: 학생이 아닌 반면 means "whereas one is not a student".

The Optional 에

The 에 after 반면 can be dropped. 넓은 반면 and 넓은 반면에 mean the same. Both forms lean toward writing and careful speech; the short form 반면 is a little more compact.

The next section builds a full sentence.

Worked Example: Building 도시는 편리한 반면 물가가 비싸요

Say "The city is convenient, whereas prices are high." Follow five steps.

1. Write the first side. "The city is convenient" is 도시는 편리해요. The adjective is 편리하다.
2. Find the stem. The stem is 편리하.
3. Make the modifier. Add ㄴ to get 편리한. Remove the polite ending 해요, because the ending belongs to the last verb only.
4. Add 반면. 도시는 편리한 반면 means "the city is convenient, whereas ...". Leave a space before 반면.
5. Write the other side. "Prices are high" is 물가가 비싸요. Join the two parts: 도시는 편리한 반면 물가가 비싸요.

You'll know it worked when the first clause ends in 반면 with nothing after it, the two clauses are two sides of one topic (the city), and the polite ending 요 appears only once, at the end. Try the same steps with "This bag is light, whereas it is not sturdy": 이 가방은 가벼운 반면 튼튼하지 않아요.

The next section covers tense and sentence types.

Which Tenses and Sentence Types Work with -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에)?

Tense lives in the modifier. The present modifier 는 or (으)ㄴ describes a state that is true now: 편리한 반면. The past modifier (으)ㄴ describes a finished event: 비가 온 반면. For a past state of an adjective, use 았/었던: 추웠던 반면. Past tense -았/었- is explained in full on its own page, so this page does not repeat it.

The pattern is best for statements. A yes/no question ends with a rise. A wh-question, for example 장점은 뭐고 단점은 뭐예요, does not end with a sharp rise. Commands and suggestions are not natural in the second clause, because the pattern compares facts, not wishes.

Both clauses usually have a different focus but the same level of detail. If the first clause is long and the second clause is a short fragment, the comparison feels uneven. A good test is to say "on one hand ..., on the other hand ...": 한편으로는 넓지만, 다른 한편으로는 어둡다.

The honorific -(으)시- goes inside the modifier: 엄하신 반면. The speech level is set on the last verb only.

The next section compares -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) with its neighbours.

How Is -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) Different from -지만?

All three patterns below connect a contrast, and that is why learners mix them up. The difference is what kind of contrast the speaker wants. The same room is described three ways.

Spoken forms: 이 방은 넓지만 어두워요 is [이 방은 널찌만 어두워요] (RR i bangeun neoljiman eoduwoyo), and 이 방은 넓은데 어두워요 is [이 방은 널븐데 어두워요] (RR i bangeun neolbeunde eoduwoyo).

The key test is the topic. If both clauses describe two sides of one subject and you want to weigh them, use -(으)ㄴ/는 반면. If you simply say "but", use -지만. The pattern -지만 can also soften a refusal: 죄송하지만 못 가요. The pattern -(으)ㄴ/는 반면 cannot do this. And if you lead into a request or a question, use -(으)ㄴ/는데. Compare these two.

• 비싼 반면 샀어요. (wrong) The meaning "I bought it anyway" is not a comparison of two sides.
• 비싸지만 샀어요. ("It was expensive, but I bought it.") A plain contrast with -지만.

The next section covers set phrases and edge cases.

Variations and Edge Cases of -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에)

Sentence-Starting Forms

The word 반면에 can start a new sentence, with a comma after it. The sentence then means "On the other hand, ...". Two other forms are 이에 반해 and 그에 반해, which mean "in contrast to this" and "in contrast to that".

The form 그에 반해 is written and slightly formal. 동생은 활발해요. 그에 반해 저는 조용해요 means "My sibling is lively. In contrast, I am quiet."

Using 도 for Emphasis

You can add 도 to the second clause to mean "also": 장점이 많은 반면 단점도 있어요 means "There are many advantages, whereas there are also disadvantages." The particle 도 is explained in also particle 도.

Not the Same as a Concession

Do not mix up this pattern with a concession such as -(으)ㄹ지라도 ("even if") or -(으)ㅁ에도 불구하고 ("in spite of"). Those patterns say that a result does not change. This pattern only places two facts next to each other.

Setting up an Argument

In essays, the pattern often appears in the shape "A has advantage X, whereas it has disadvantage Y": 장점이 많은 반면 단점도 있다. The particle 도 in the second clause says "also", and it gives the sentence a balanced feeling.

The next section lists the mistakes that appear most often.

What Mistakes Do Learners Make with -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에)?

Learners make six predictable mistakes. Each has a reason and a fix.

Learners often pair two unrelated facts. Actually the clauses must be two sides of one topic. Unnatural: 오늘은 날씨가 좋은 반면 저는 배가 고파요. Better: 오늘은 날씨가 좋지만 저는 배가 고파요, or no connector at all. Fix: ask whether both clauses describe the same thing from two sides.

Learners often use it for "I did it anyway". Actually the pattern does not carry a concession. Wrong: 비싼 반면 샀어요. Right: 비싸지만 샀어요. Fix: use -지만 or -아/어도 for a result that goes against expectation.

Learners often attach 반면 to a bare stem. Actually a modifier must come first. Wrong: 넓 반면 and 넓어요 반면. Right: 넓은 반면. Fix: add 는, (으)ㄴ or 인 before 반면 and never put the polite ending 요 inside.

Learners often use the wrong modifier on an adjective. Actually adjectives take (으)ㄴ, not 는. Wrong: 넓는 반면. Right: 넓은 반면. Fix: use 는 only for present verbs, and for 있다 and 없다.

Learners often drop 인 after a noun. Actually the noun needs 이다. Wrong: 서울은 대도시 반면 시골은 조용해요. Right: 서울은 대도시인 반면 시골은 조용해요. Fix: add 인 after the noun.

Learners often write 반면 without a space. Actually 반면 is a separate word. Wrong: 넓은반면. Right: 넓은 반면. Fix: leave a space.

The next section gives you practice.

Practice and Answers

Do the four tasks, then compare with the key.

Task 1: join the sentences with -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에). Write one sentence for each pair.

1. 이 방은 넓어요. / 조금 어두워요.
2. 동생은 활발해요. / 저는 조용해요.
3. 도시는 편리해요. / 물가가 비싸요.
4. 어제는 비가 왔어요. / 오늘은 맑아요.

Task 2: fix the error. Each sentence has one mistake. Rewrite it correctly.

1. 이 방은 넓는 반면 조금 어두워요.
2. 비싼 반면 샀어요.
3. 서울은 대도시 반면 시골은 조용해요.

Task 3: translate. Write in Korean: "This job pays well, whereas I have no time." and "Yesterday was cold, whereas today is warm."

Task 4: write your own. Write one sentence with an adjective and 반면, and one with 반면에 at the start.

Answer key

1. (1) 이 방은 넓은 반면 조금 어두워요. (2) 동생은 활발한 반면 저는 조용해요. (3) 도시는 편리한 반면 물가가 비싸요. (4) 어제는 비가 온 반면 오늘은 맑아요.
2. (1) 이 방은 넓은 반면 조금 어두워요. (2) 비싸지만 샀어요. (3) 서울은 대도시인 반면 시골은 조용해요.
3. 이 일은 월급이 많은 반면 시간이 없어요. 어제는 추웠던 반면 오늘은 따뜻해요. Other correct versions exist, for example 이 일은 월급이 많지만 시간이 없어요 with -지만.
4. Sample answers: 이 가방은 가벼운 반면 튼튼하지 않아요. 낮에는 따뜻해요. 반면에 밤에는 추워요. Any pair is correct if the first clause ends in 반면 and the two sides belong to one topic.

If task 1 was correct, you have the formation rule. If task 2 was hard, check whether you used the wrong modifier, forgot 인, or used the pattern for "anyway". The next section points you to what comes after this lesson.

What Should You Learn after -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) Grammar?

After -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에), learn -(으)ㄹ지라도 and -(으)ㅁ에도 불구하고 for formal concessions. If you have not yet studied the general contrast, go back to -지만 and -(으)ㄴ/는데.

For a wider view, the parent page Contrast and Concession lists every connector in this group. To plan by level, use Advanced Grammar.

This lesson covers -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) in the polite, casual and formal styles. It does not cover every written variation. About this page. Last updated 2026-10-09. Revised Romanization follows the national rules and is shown only as a learning aid.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) Mean?

-(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) means "whereas" or "on the other hand". It sets two facts about the same topic side by side, and they point in opposite directions, often one good and one bad. 이 방은 넓은 반면 조금 어두워요 means "This room is spacious, whereas it is a bit dark."

How Do I Attach -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) to a Verb or Adjective?

Make a modifier and add the separate word 반면. A present verb takes 는 (잘하는 반면), an adjective takes (으)ㄴ (넓은 반면), a past verb takes (으)ㄴ (온 반면), and a noun takes 인 (대도시인 반면). The 에 after 반면 is optional. Always leave a space before 반면.

Can -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) Be Used in the past Tense?

Yes. A past verb uses (으)ㄴ, as in 어제는 비가 온 반면 오늘은 맑아요. A past adjective uses 았/었던, as in 어제는 추웠던 반면 오늘은 따뜻해요. The result clause can be in any tense, and both clauses usually describe the same topic from two sides.

Is -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) Used in Speech or Only in Writing?

Both. It is common in essays, news and presentations, where people compare two sides of a topic. In speech it is natural, but it sounds a little more formal than -지만. 반면 without 에 sounds more written. A speaker can also start a new sentence with 반면에 to say "on the other hand".

What Is the Most Common Mistake with -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에)?

Using it for two unrelated facts. 오늘은 날씨가 좋은 반면 저는 배가 고파요 sounds odd, because the two clauses are not two sides of one topic. Another frequent mistake is using it for "although I did it anyway", as in 비싼 반면 샀어요. Say 비싸지만 샀어요 instead.

What Is the Difference between -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) and -지만?

-지만 is the general "but" and can soften a request, as in 죄송하지만. -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) is narrower: it compares two sides of one topic, such as an advantage and a disadvantage. 이 방은 넓지만 어두워요 is a plain contrast. 이 방은 넓은 반면 어두워요 weighs both sides of the room.

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